Telephone role-plays, by Wayne Rimmer
This activity is useful for students at B1 level, studying Business English.
Wayne Rimmer is an author of 'Cambridge Active Grammar', a practice grammar for
teenagers (2011, Cambridge University Press).
Level: B1
Language: Functional
Preparation: Copy one quiz for 3 / 4 learners. Copy then cut out the telephone
role-play cards, one set for two people.
Procedure:
1. Learners do the quiz in small groups. Teacher then gives feedback.
2. Put learners in pairs and distribute the role-play cards. Pre-teach any vocabulary you
think might be problematic.
3. Demonstrate the activity with one of the stronger learners.
4. Learners go through the role-plays. Teacher monitors and makes notes of errors.
5. Feedback.
Quiz
How much do you know about telephoning?
1. Who invented the telephone?
2. Which language does telephone come from?
3. Fill in the gap:  I m afraid you ve got the _________ number.
4. What is the international code for the UK?
5. Which phrasal verb means wait?
6. When you pick up the phone, you need to _________ the number.
7. Do you make or do a phone call?
8. Fill in the gap:  One moment, I ll put you _________ to him.
9. SMS = ____________ _______________ _______________
10. What is the American English word for mobile?
Answers
1. Alexander Bell
2. Greek (= sound from a long distance)
3. wrong
4. +44
5. hold on
6. dial
7. make
8. through
9. Short Messaging System
10. cell phone
© Cambridge University Press, 2010 1
Role-play cards
Telephone your friend. Try to persuade him / Your friend will phone you. Try to persuade
her to go on holiday to Thailand with you. him / her to go on holiday with you to
London.
You are a boss. Phone your employee to You are at home. You do not want to work
find out why he / she is not at work today. today. Your boss will phone you.
Phone your friend. Tell him / her that you Your friend has some interesting
saw their wife / husband with someone else information for you.
last night.
You went to a restaurant and had very bad You are the manager of a restaurant. A
service. Phone the manager and complain. customer will phone you.
You are a boss. Phone your employee and You are happy that it is Friday and the end
tell him / her to work this Saturday. of the working week. Your boss will phone
you.
You need some money for your business. Your friend will phone you. This is good
Phone your friend and ask to borrow some because she owes you $500 and you need
money. the money back.
You are a neighbour. Your neighbour is very Your neighbour will phone you. You don t
noisy. Phone him / her to complain. like this neighbour.
You are a boss. Your employee will phone Phone your boss and ask for a bigger salary.
you.
You bought a computer from a shop but it You are manager of a computer shop.
doesn t work now. Phone the shop and tell
them.
You left your mobile phone at your friend s Your friend will phone you. You found his /
flat. Phone him / her and ask where it is. her mobile phone in your flat this morning
but your dog then ate it!
© Cambridge University Press, 2010 2